Oatmeal Cookies with Raisins & Pecans
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Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, these are the end-all-be-all oatmeal cookies.
I love to find end-all-be-all recipes for classic American desserts. This oatmeal cookie recipe is one of them (see also my favorite chocolate chip cookies and my go-to brownie recipe). You bakers out there know that it can take many attempts to get it just right, but once you find that perfect recipe, it’s your go-to forever. These are not your ordinary oatmeal cookies. The recipe calls for way fewer oats than most, which, strangely, makes for much better oatmeal cookies. They are also sweetened entirely with brown sugar, which gives them rich flavor and makes them slightly crispy on the outside and deliciously chewy on the inside.
Be careful not to overcook oatmeal cookies; they get very crispy if baked too long and you’ll enjoy them so much more if they are slightly chewy. For a variation, be sure to try my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
“Bye bye any previous oatmeal cookie recipe I had…these are the winner!”
What You’ll Need To Make Oatmeal Cookies With Raisins & Pecans
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Add texture and a hearty oat flavor. I don’t recommend quick-cooking/instant oats. Old-fashioned oats impart a chewy, nutty texture and flavor to oatmeal cookies, offering a thicker and heartier consistency compared to quick-cooking/instant oats.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure to the cookies. Measure it by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off to ensure accuracy.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Help the cookies rise and spread.
- Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cookies.
- Dark Brown Sugar: Imparts a deep, caramelized sweetness. When measuring brown sugar, always pack it tightly to eliminate air pockets.
- Egg: Bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the cookies with its aromatic richness.
- Coarsely Chopped Pecans: Bring a nutty crunch and rich, buttery flavor to each bite. The cookies would also be delicious with chopped walnuts.
- Raisins or Currants: Infuse the cookies with natural sweetness and chewy texture. Either will work equally well.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
To begin, combine the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
Whisk well.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a hand mixer with beaters), combine the butter and brown sugar.
Beat on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes.
Add the egg and vanilla.
Beat until smooth, about 30 seconds.
Add the flour/oatmeal mixture.
Mix on low speed until just combined.
Add the pecans and raisins.
Mix until just combined.
Drop the dough into 1-1/2-tablespoon mounds onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until the edges are slightly golden but the centers are still pale, 11 to 13 minutes.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then either slide the papers off the pans onto wire racks or transfer the cookies with a spatula.
Make-Ahead, Freezing & Storage Instructions
The cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature (they are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are baked). The cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months: scoop the dough into balls, let set on a baking sheet in the freezer, then place in a sealable bag and press out as much air as possible. Bake as needed directly from the freezer. (Allow 1 to 2 minutes longer in the oven.) To freeze after baking: let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! You can use your favorite dried fruit or what you have on hand, like dried cranberries or diced, dried apricots. Keep in mind they may add a slightly different flavor to the cookies.
Sure, it’s fine to omit the nuts without any additional modifications.
You May Also Like
Oatmeal Brown Sugar Cookies with Raisins & Pecans
Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, these are the end-all-be-all oatmeal cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (do not use quick cooking or instant oats)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup coarsely chopped pecans
- ¾ cup raisins or currants
Instructions
- Position two racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then add the egg and vanilla and beat again until smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Add the flour and oatmeal mixture and mix on low speed until just combined; add the pecans and raisins and mix again until just combined. Do not over-mix.
- Drop the dough into 1½-tablespoon mounds about 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, or until the edges are slightly golden but the centers are still pale. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then either slide the papers off the pans onto cooling racks or transfer the cookies with a spatula. Once cool, store the cookies in an air-tight container.
- Note: The recipe can easily be doubled, but keep in mind that oatmeal cookies are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are baked.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The Cookie Dough can be Frozen for up to 3 Months: Scoop the dough into balls, let set on a baking sheet in the freezer, then place in a sealable bag and press out as much air as possible. Bake as needed directly from the freezer. (Allow 1 to 2 minutes longer in the oven.) To Freeze After Baking: Let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.
Nutrition Information
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- Serving size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 105
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Sugar: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 13 mg
- Cholesterol: 52 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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How do I adjust this recipe for baking at sea level, Thank You!
Hi Mitchell, you shouldn’t need to adjust the recipe to bake them at sea level. 🙂
Thank You for your prompt reply!
Hi Jenn,
Paul here, in Delaware – an amateur but enthusiastic baker. Can I use light brown sugar (instead of dark) for these cookies?
Yep, that will work. 🙂
Great recipe! Loved the taste of the pecans in these yummy cookies!
Oh my gosh . These are crispy outside soft and chewy inside . The raisins are so soft after soaking 15 minutes in hot water. I omitted pecans. The flavor reminds me of my childhood favorite cookie . Thank you so much for this recipe . This is a Christmas gift to my best man who loves oatmeal raisin cookies .
I only use Bob’s Red Mill Unbleached flour. A cup of flour is 136g and a half cup is 64
should I use 200 g of flour instead. I know you use KA and they are similar in protein count.
Or do I follow your 180 g
thank you
Hi Diane, I’m a bit confused by your question as the recipe only calls for 1 cup of flour (130 grams). Can you clarify?
Made these delicious cookies today with gluten free alternative flour mix (1/3 cup each rice flour, buckwheat flour and almond flour) and added cranberries rather than raisins. Wow! Divine with a capital D, thank you for the fab recipe.
Jenn, Why do you always ask what kind of flour they are using? I use King Arthur Unbleached.Is this the best choice
Hi Carol, different flours have different amounts of proteins and can impact the end result when baking. King Arthur has a bit more protein and gives cakes and cookies more structure. And yes, the King Arthur unbleached flour is great – that’s what I use!
They turned out just right! And my friend who does a lot of baking thought they were delicious. Very flavorful with just the right touch of sweetness.
My neighbor and I both use Jenn as our go-to. We love her recipes. Thank you Jenn!
We’ve had a family favorite recipe forever. I tried these on a whim last week, since I love so many of your recipes, and it’s our new favorite. I’m gluten free, so changed the flour to Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1. They’re amazing! Thanks for always having the greatest go-to recipes!
~Denise
Sorry but Cooking with Karli’s oatmeal cookies are 1000x better than these. Hers are soft, chewy, and perfectly sweet. These are just not it…
Maybe different but that does not mean better, especially 1000x . I find these cookies 100% deliciously satisfying.
What a good example of an useless comment. You said nothing about the recipe.
Cut-up dates work very well as an alternative to raisins.